January 18, 2022 - Cost of living in LOU + Vernon Lanes reopening

With Louisville being named as one of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022 + multiple high-profile developments in the works this year, we figured it high time to talk about the cost of putting down roots in Derby City.

The median household income in Jefferson County is $59,049 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. State-wise, Kentucky is 44th in the country for median income at ~$50,589 per household.

The overall cost of living in Louisville is lower than the national average. | Screenshot from bestplaces.net

The overall cost of living in Louisville is lower than the national average — which is represented as 100 in this chart — but higher than the rest of the commonwealth.

In Louisville, the cost of healthcare is lower than in other parts of the state + the US. However, the cost of groceries, housing, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have higher average costs than other cities in the Bluegrass State + the country overall.

COST BREAKDOWN HERE

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EVENTS

Today

Nameless Catering Tasting | Tues., Jan. 18 | 6-8 p.m. | Story, 900 E. Main St. | Free | Save your spot for this limited tasting event showcasing Mexican, Italian + BBQ catering menus.

Wednesday

Patty Griffin | Wed., Jan. 19 | 8 p.m. | Old Forester’s Paristown Hall | $30+ | This guitar player + pianist brings a stripped-down style of folk music that gives listeners a new love for the sound. 🎤

Thursday

The Watercolors of Harlan Hubbard | Thurs., Jan. 20 | 6-7 p.m. | The Filson Historical Society | $15 | Learn all about Harlan Hubbard and his most famous pieces of art. 🎨

Friday

TEDxBellarmineU | Fri., Jan. 21 | 4-7 p.m. | Wyatt Hatt at Bellarmine University, 2001 Newburg Rd. | $5+ | Students beg the question, “Now What?” about this unprecedented time in human history.

Saturday

Creatives You Meet Along The Way: A West End Love Story in the Making… | Sat., Jan. 22 | 5-7 p.m. | TEN20 Craft Brewing, 1020 E. Washington St. | $15 | This exhibition of West Louisville artists includes a short film, light refreshments + the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation around art. 🎨

Sunday

Silent Meditation Retreat | Sun., Jan. 23 | 12:30-4 p.m. | Waterfront Botanical Gardens | $22+ | Explore mindfulness meditation practices from skillful teachers supported by the gardens, music + food. 🧘

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE EVENTS HERE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

48º | Partly cloudy | 7% chance of rain

Coming Soon

The iconic Vernon Lanes is reopening this spring. The historic bowling alley in Butchertown — built in 1876 — closed in 2015 and was purchased by a local ownership group for almost $1.2 million in 2021. Vernon Lanes will feature a restored bowling alley, bar, and dining space + a stage for live music. 🎳

Plan Ahead

Nouvelle Bar & Bottle in NuLu is hosting a wine class featuring legendary wine producer, Laura Vadillo, from La Rioja Alta. Learn about the region + what makes it unique via three wine pairings for $55. Pro tip: Get your tickets early as these popular wine classes sell out every time. 🍷

Feel Good

The Kentucky Science Center received $50,000 — $30,000 from Brown-Forman + $20,000 Genentech — to fund its Community Access Memberships. The program gives 3,200+ free museum memberships to households with the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or the Women Infants Children supplemental nutrition program. (WDRB)

Civic

The Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk’s office issued its last Kentucky driver’s license last week. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has officially taken over the responsibility of issuing licenses. KYTC has four locations in Jefferson County — including the familiar Bowman Field DMV. Learn more about the transition + REAL ID here. (WHAS11)

Arts

Louisville Visual Art is now accepting applications through Jan. 21 for its Artist Catalyst Program II. Artists — established and emerging — that wish to use their artistic skills to inspire change + heal communities through public art projects are encouraged to apply. 🎨

Wellness

Noom’s unique approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle uses psychology to change behavior. Read: They’ll help you understand why you make the decisions you do so you can start making healthier ones. With Noom, you can create a sustainable, healthy routine to achieve your personal goals. 💪*

Job

We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships in Louisville. This exec would manage the entire LOU territory, identifying and securing new advertising partnerships, and growing existing client relationships — all while earning $100,000+ with unlimited PTO. To be considered or recommend someone, learn more + apply.

*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.

POST OF THE DAY

What’re you looking at?

📸 @poco_502

Poco502 is bringing a whole new meaning to “if my hat’s missing, I’ve gone fishing.”

The pop-up restaurant is dishing out this whole crispy tilapia — topped with herbs, pickled peppers + Vietnamese dressing — this Thursday at Zanzabar from 5-10 p.m. Pro tip: Do yourself a favor and get the kimchi pimento cheese.

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REWARDS

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THE WRAP

Editor’s pick: Last fall my partner and I purchased our first major piece of art — “Sea Beyond the Veil” by Hawk Alfredson — after visiting the Tim Faulkner Gallery.

Hawk currently has an exhibition in the Shelby Park gallery. DYK: Tim Faulkner has an art layaway program where you can make payments toward purchasing a piece?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Meet Kentucky’s elected officials in LOU here.